Etihad Aviation Group (EAG) has recognised 11 university students from across the UAE at the inaugural Fikra awards ceremony, held at the company’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi.

Fikra, which means
“idea” in Arabic, was launched in 2016, supporting the UAE government’s drive
to encourage innovation among younger generations.

The students were
encouraged to think innovatively and harness their entrepreneurial spirit to
create ideas that could be implemented in businesses and entities across EAG.

More than 2,600
competition ideas were submitted by students, with 502 reaching the final
stages. The final awards were presented for eight proposed ideas from the 11
winning students.

Ray Gammell, Etihad
Aviation Group Interim Group CEO, said: “It is critical that we engage and
inspire the young people of the UAE and that ethos is at the heart of Fikra,
which, in its first year has showcased the incredible talent that exists in
this country.

“So much creativity and
innovation has been generated through Fikra already and I look forward to
seeing how the concepts will evolve in the coming months across Etihad Aviation
Group as well as how the competition develops over the next few years.”

In addition, there was
a special category called ‘Out of the Box’ which allowed students to pitch
game-changing ideas. These ideas were in-line with some of the concepts that
Etihad Airways has previously introduced, such as The Residence, the airline’s
private three-room cabin on the A380 aircraft.

The students’ ideas
were judged by members of senior management at EAG and the winning students
have been offered an internship at some of the group’s key strategic suppliers,
including: BT, Cognizant, SAP, TATA Consultancy Services, Sabre, Stelia
Aerospace, Zodiac Aerospace, CAE, B/E Aerospace, Recaro Aircraft Seating and
Thales Avionics Inc.

The internships will
provide the students with an opportunity to develop themselves and their idea
in a professional environment and to experience first-hand how major
multinational businesses use and benefit from innovation on a day-to-day basis.

Lamis Abu Ashour, who
is studying at the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology in Abu Dhabi,
submitted a winning idea which will enhance the guest experience using existing
electronic channels. She will now have a dedicated secondment with Thales
Aerospace.

Lamis said: “I have
always had a keen interest in aviation and when Fikra was announced I
immediately saw an opportunity to show the judges that my ideas could really
make a difference. I am excited about my secondment and know this will help me
with my future career.”

EAG launched the Fikra
last year as part of the UAE’s Innovation Week. Etihad Airways continues to
invest significantly in technology and innovation. This investment has
transformed its operations and businesses, leveraging technology platforms,
digital capability and supplier partnerships.